FairWooney

          Pickford

Coleman    Keane    Godfrey    Digne

                 Allan   Doucoure (according to presser he could be back)

Townsend            Iwobi              Gordon

                      Rondon/Tosun/Simms

This is what I expect

I don't really have much better to offer.

Iwobi was poor last week but unless Gray is fit he'll be starting.

Tosun highly unlikely to start, nor is Simms to be honest but he may get on.

I didn't recognise him in an Everton shirt full stop!!

If he's going to be fit for the derby it would be good to see him if possible fit for a short run out at Brentford.  Don't like the idea of throwing him straight in against Liverpool.

14 hours ago, StevO said:

Having seen the replay a few times now I don’t think it’s a red card. It’s a strong tackle, but I think there were plenty worse in that game. 
That said, I don’t want him in midfield ever again. And how shit must Gbamin be for Rafa to think Holgate was the better option. 

I thought he'd just lost his fitting and slipped after kicking the ball in which case I felt it was a bit harsh as a red.

If you're saying he deliberately played that as a challenge then it's definitely a red!  There wasn't even a ball to challenge for as he'd already kicked it!

I suggested a 3 man midfield and feel after 20 minutes I was right!

All said and done though, no matter what formation we played the confidence and real fight that we saw in early games seems to have just died.  Players look all over the players and look like they've no idea what to do with themselves or have the fight to do much about it.  Since the Utd game it's been the same each game.

Really need a big change this second half to at least show something better

FFS I'd rather Rondon not start but we could really do without more injuries!

Getting ridiculous now, barely going to muster more than 11 and 3 keepers on the bench!

On 31/10/2021 at 03:20, Sibdane said:

I’m sure this has been seen before, but I find this so fascinating.

 

The reporter on this sounds like something off of an old kids programme like Trumpton "go on Dixy, now one right at the camera" "he back heels the ball into the goal, too bad the goal keeper didn't see that"!

Love the training in what looks to be a turtleneck jumper!

after losing to Watford on the new managers 2nd game it looks like we could be a new Spurs managers second game as well!  Either stand in or new replacement.

He played Nuno type football, surely what they'd have expected and it wasn't popular!  Though they haven't been great you can hardly say he's had a fair crack seeing as they decided to offer him the job so must have had some idea what to expect even if results haven't been great.

To think he could have been happily sat in the same spot at Everton!

No doubt Spurs will turn things around at the weekend!

                    Pickford

Coleman     Keane  Godfrey   Digne

         Allan     Gbamin    Davies

Townsend         Richarlison      Gray

I don't see this happening with Gbamin clearly not high in Benitez plans at the moment but there's not really many options and I'd favour having 3 in midfield especially given that loss of control in the area without Doucoure.  Wolves have looked good in attack when i've seen them recently, some good fast attacks and Hwang looks a really dangerous finisher.

If we went 2 then my preference would be for Gordon to come in and Gray to go in the middle but we'll probably end up picking Iwobi! 

Hope he comes back firing up front.

reckon he can link up well with Gray.

Hope to see him up front with Gray behind and Gordon and Townsend out wide.  loads of pace, good fast attacking and plenty of skills to get through Watford.

       Pickford

Coleman   Mina   Godfrey    Digne

                  Allan    JP/Davies

Townsend     Gray      Gordon

                 Richarlison

Verdict on JP or Davies really down to what the manager/coaches see in both of them in training, this (hopefully short) absence for Doucoure should be the ideal chance for JP to show everyone that he's alive, well and able to step up and do a job in that position for us.  But if he's not shown that desire in training then it could well be Davies.

Gordon should have started last week and should get the game this week, want to see him running at their defenders and looking to get inside as well as getting crosses in.  Showed how well he can finish in the latest training video, would love to see him bag himself a first EPL goal in front of the home crowd.

Richarlison is in full training so i'm going to assume he's fit enough to start.  Hopefully we can turn them over and he'll be able to comfortably go off in his trademark grumpy huff after an hour.

is Cenk actually in the named squad to be able to play?

If so he should definitely at least be on the bench...you know rather than 2 keepers!

Noticed on Sunday he wasn't on the bench and watching the training video now and he's not in training.

Don't tell me even our 3rd choice goalkeeper is injured now!  

What's going on?!!

he's been in training prior to international break so was surprised he wasn't back.  Surely can't be far off now.

meh.

was good to have Coleman back, gave us a lot more up that right wing in attack than we've had in the last few games, generally had a decent game but for the odd moment.

Hopefully stays fit.

12 hours ago, Cornish Steve said:

Disappointed with Benitez' team selection and (mostly lack of) substitutions today. It's criminal that Rondon started, let alone played 90 minutes. When will Dobbin ever get to start? Also, Gordon deserved to start over Iwobi. When we're chasing a game, why were subs unused?

agree with lack of changes and Gordon should have started ahead of Iwobi but on Dobbin I don't think you could say he should have started ahead of Rondon without having been at the training ground on a regular basis.  Rafa will know how the two are getting on, he will obviously favour Rondon having signed him and being an experienced player but he must feel Dobbin isn't looking quite ready to have not even brought him on.

Personally I think he should have got on with 10 minutes or so to go as Rondon was clearly struggling fitness wise at that point.

Gordon after last match should have started and even if not should have come on much earlier.

Hopefully we have DCL and Richarlison back next week to give us some attacking options.

sounds silly when we have such a small squad but how would he fit in?

Allan and Doucoure aren't getting dropped, Gray and Richarlison have got the other spot in the middle nailed.

agree thought he played well, always looked to make a run and run at them down the wing making them have to put a tackle in.  played a couple of good balls across from down the corner of the box and was always making himself available.

Chances will probably be tougher to come by once Richarlison is back but if he gets a bit more game time and keeps working and listening in training he'll keep improving.

love the way he plays with such a smile, seems to really be enjoying his football with us.

Works perfectly in our system with his directness, pace and crossing ability.  What's not to love

he was invisible  lot of the time but actually when the ball went forward in the air he usually won it.  6 times he won the ball in the air, twice as much as anyone else.

The probably being a not all that quick and not fully fit striker in our team at the moment is we spend very little time around the oppositions box so anyone that's going to get chances has to be quick and sharp getting forward.  Maybe if we actually had possession and were around the box he'd be making more of a nuisance of himself.  That's not his fault but he's also not going to change that and nor are we most likely as that's how we're setting up and it's working!  When DCL comes back in he'll enjoy the quick counter attacks with Gray, Townsend and Doucoure, as will Richarlison.

Poor Allan got the full picture but no mention on the team sheet!

Good to see Gordon get a chance though probably only because Iwobi is out.

Man Utd benched Ronaldo so expect he'll come on and save the day if we're looking like getting a result.

Their McFred combo in the middle isn't too daunting, Doucoure can muscle his way past them no problem.  Pogba benched as well

He was playing a training match on the Friday before we played Burnley then turned out to be out for another 3 weeks minimum.

hopefully on his way back though. Would be great to have him for Utd

enjoyed the little piece on him on match of the day, could see just how much he does as a full box to box midfielder now.

Having a player who will tackle and win the ball, then can ran forward with it with pace and power, lay it off and carry on forward to stay involved or play a lovely long pass forward is such a valuable asset to the team.

I always thought him and Allan sitting in under Ancelloti seemed too limiting on the team in attack but what he's giving us now give us so much all over the pitch and helps us push forward at pace.

out injured this weekend!  Can't keep anyone fit at the moment.

Looks like Pickford will be back.

That means an extra body on the bench!  2 Goalkeepers!

sounds unlikely we'll have Richarlison or Calvert-Lewin for the Man Utd game next week 

No Gomes (injured from league cup)

Regular sick notes Gbamin and Delph are also out still.

Our fit squad for the weekend looks like it just about fills the 8 sub spots:

Pickford, Begovic, Lonergan

Kenny, Holgate, Keane, Digne, Mina, Godfrey, Branthwaite

Allan, Doucoure, Davies

Gray, Townsend, Iwobi, Rondon, Gordon, Simms